Abstract:
This article examines features of habitation and domestic symbolism in
Lesu houses as originally observed by Hortense Powdermaker in 1929-1930. It
reconstructs important aspects of early social life in Lesu society with a focus
on houses as mundane institutions and as expressive devices. The examination
concerns the organization of shelter into continuous groups and social
communities. Men's houses and women's houses stood out as symbolic topoi, each
evoking a main cultural modality. The respective iconic narrations of these two
possible worlds offered radically different solutions to the existential problem
of continuity.

Document Number:
7

Document ID: om24-007

Document Type:
Journal Article

Language:
English

Field Date:
not applicable

Evaluation:
Anthropologist-4

Analyst:
Teferi Abate Adem; 2011

Coverage Date:
1920-2007

Coverage Place:
Lesu, New
Ireland, Papua New Guinea

LCSH:
New Ireland Province (Papua New Guinea)//Ethnology--Papua New Guinea--New
Ireland//Lesu, New Ireland (Papua New Guinea)

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